. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/75 
2 December 2009 
 (09-6147) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
BELIZE 
 
Statement by HE Mr Alexis Rosado
 
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade  
   Belize adds its voice to others who have spoken before me in thanking the Director-General 
and his team in the Secretariat for arranging this Conference. 
 
 There is a growing perception outside that meetings like these amount to nothing more than "talk shops".  There is a real danger that the conc lusion of this meeting might give rise to similar 
speculation.  We cannot fail to recognize, however, the efforts of Members who are trying very hard to achieve some measure of progress.  I want to assu re this Conference of Belize's full resolve to assist 
in reaching a successful conclusion of the Doha De velopment Agenda (DDA).  We cannot afford the 
Doha Development commitments to fall by the wayside. 
  Yes, we are becoming impatient at the delays in  concluding the Doha Round.  However, it is 
not our desire to see a conclusion in the DDA at the pr ice of development.  It goes without saying that 
such a scenario would be contrary to the spirit in which this Round was conceived. 
 
 As a member of the small vulnerable working group (SVE) we hold firmly to the view that 
actions speak louder than words.   While we recognize and appreciate the progress that has been made 
in transcribing some elements of the work programme into concrete proposals so far, we insist that all 
elements of the SVE work programme must be comp leted early.  Here, we need to single out the 
special safeguard mechanism for special mention.  We wish to see this mechanism become simple, 
operational, and effective without the level of ad ministrative burdens endemic to traditional trade 
remedies.  If not properly crafted, it can eas ily become meaningless for our producers. 
  In this regard, the Aid for Trade (AfT) pledges to countries like mine should be made good.  To date, the Caribbean lags far behind in receiving its fair share of AfT resources.  Empty promises 
ring hollow if we do not receive the promised assistan ce, especially as it relates to helping us meet our 
supply side constraints.  We are firm adherents to  the view that trade done right lifts people out of 
poverty.  But if not given the proper tools to use trade effectively, the role of trade in the promotion of 
development becomes meaningless.  Belize attaches gr eat importance to AfT especially in the light of 
the loss we have been experiencing of long-standi ng preferences in major agricultural commodities. 
 
 Even prior to the financial crisis, our priv ate and public sectors expressed great difficulty 
accessing capital financing.  Now with the crisis, th is is exacerbated by new problems that were not 
hitherto present.  We believe the timely interv ention of Aid-for-Trade assistance can do much to 
ameliorate some of the structural difficulties facing us today.  WT/MIN(09)/ST/75 
Page 2  
 
   In respect of bananas, we appreciate that closure to such a long-standing dispute may be 
imminent.  We associate ourselves with the concerns expressed by CARICOM delegations who worry about the possibility that Caribbean producers might once again be at the losing end of any deal.  In 
my country, this matter is a bread and butter issue.  The trade deals that take place here cannot be far 
removed from the reality at home.  Belize, like other members of CARICOM and of the ACP Group, 
will insist that its views are heard a nd taken into account in any final deal. 
  
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